5/28 Under peaceful conditions the militant man attacks himself. With his principles a man seeks either to dominate, or justify, or honour, or reproach, or conceal his habits: two men with the same principles probably seek fundamentally different ends therewith. He who despises himself, nevertheless esteems himself thereby, as a despiser. A soul which knows that it is loved, but does not itself love, betrays its sediment: its dregs come up. A thing that is explained ceases to concern us--What did the God mean who gave the advice, "Know thyself!" Did it perhaps imply "Cease to be concerned about thyself! become objective!"-- And Socrates ?--And the "scientific man"? |